Lake District (England)

Lake District National Park is an inspiring area of natural beauty that offers an enormous range of relaxing and rejuvenating experiences. 

With breathtaking mountains and sparkling lakes, the park's unsurpassed scenery has inspired the works of many writers and poets, including William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter. 

In addition to exploring its literary heritage, try out some of the best walking and climbing routes that England can offer, or choose from a wealth of indoor and outdoor activities and attractions. Bring the family - there's plenty to do for all ages. 

Relax in high quality accommodation. From cosy village bed and breakfast accommodation to opulent country house hotels with superb lake views, you'll be thoroughly spoilt for choice. 

When you feel peckish you'll find an excellent choice of inns, hotels and award-winning restaurants. The Lake District is also renowned for its superb local produce. 

Sample some of the local hams, cheeses and beers or try some Kendal Mint Cake or traditional Grasmere Gingerbread.

Abu Simbel (Egypt)

Abu Simbel is a small village lying 280 km S of Aswan and only 40 km N of the border with Sudan. It is a very small settlement with very little to attract visitors other than its great temples for which it has become famous. Very few tourists linger for more than a few hours, although there are around 5 hotels to attract visitors to stay the night. 

The temples at Abu Simbel were formerly located further down the hillside, facing the Nile in the same relative positions, but due to the rising waters of Lake Nasser, the original locations are now underwater. In the early 1960's, each temple was carefully sawed into numbered stone cubes, moved uphill, and reassembled before the water rose. 

The Great Temple of Ramses II was reassembled fronting a fake mountain, built like a domed basketball court, where the stone cubes occupy a section under the dome; from outside, the fake mountain looks like solid rock. 

Archaeologists have concluded that the immense sizes of the statues in the Great Temple were intended to scare potential enemies approaching Egypt's southern region, as they travelled down the Nile from out of Africa.

Edinburgh (Scotland)

Edinburgh is one of the Europe's most beautiful cities - dominated by the magnificent Edinburgh Castle perched on a volcanic crag in the city centre and offering a spectacular view of the surrounding area. The architecture in Edinburgh is remarkable with over 16 thousand listed buildings. Take a hike up to Arthur's Seat or stroll in the beautiful Holyrood Park, west of here is the legendary Royal Mile, a fascinating street full of history. The Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival are two events that bring many visitors from around the world.

Chamonix

Love it or loathe it, everyone tends to have an opinion about Chamonix. Many argue that it's the capital of Alpine sport, with its position next to Mont Blanc, awe-inspiring scenery, a beautiful town, the Vallée Blanche, off-piste terrain to test the very best and the Grands Montets in Argentière. They'll tell you the nightlife rocks, there are plenty of good restaurants, things to do all year-round and it's just over an hour from Geneva airport. In short, why go anywhere else??? 

Sadly, there are drawbacks. Chamonix's skiing does favour more advanced skiers. Beginners might feel left out. It is also disjointed, made up of a series of smaller bus-linked resorts; getting about can be a right pain if you're without a car. It is very popular, so traffic can be terrible, while lift queues still vex the most relaxed (notably the top half of the Grands Montets cable car). It is also expensive, with shopping nearly toppling skiing as the favourite pastime, plus a lot of the skiing requires a guide (most of whom are excellent). 

Even so, Chamonix is one of the great resorts, one that attracts the best skiers - people who really want to challenge themselves. It retains a special aura - one that only a few resorts in the world manage to create. If you want the thrill of pushing yourself to the limits, go to Chamonix - hang out with the pros and the bums, see some of the best skiing and boarding around and, best of all, boast to your friends about skiing on 'real mountains'. 

Chamonix forms part of a region known as Chamonix/Mont Blanc, comprising half a dozen neighbouring villages and hamlets (notably Argentiere, Les Bossons and Les Houches). 

Chamonix itself was once a small village but has grown steadily as the surrounding mountains (the most famous of which is Mont Blan) attract more and more visitors. It now measures about 2 mls by ½ ml with a permanent population of around 10,000. Much of the development is sensitive to the region, although the town centre is rather commercialised, you can still conjure up its village origins in the cobbled streets of the extensive pedestrianised area around the central square. It is a popular year-round base and its size and valley location mean it can get excessively crowded in high season (Jan to March and July to Aug); it is generally quiet mid to late spring and mid to late autumn. 

Courchevel

Courchevel is located in SE France, in the heart of the Savoie region (32 mls SE of Albertville, 70 mls SE of Chambery and its airport, 116 mls SE of Lyon and its airport, 90 mls SE of Geneva and its airport). Courchevel is an integral part of the famous Trois Vallees ski-area, comprising 4 villages (Courchevel 1300, 1550, 1650 and 1850) situated at different altitudes along the wide Bozel Valley, all connected by lifts and public transport.

The resort is one of the most popular and fashionable resorts in France because of the huge choice of runs and a sophisticated range of amenities and shops. The 4 centres differ dramatically when it comes to appearance, size and amenities. Courchevel 1300, about 700 yds in length (also known as Le Praz), is the only one that retains any genuine alpine character, with some traditional architecture and a low-key atmosphere. Courchevel 1550, about 800 yds in length, is a purpose-built village with modest local amenities and little charm, although it offers direct access to the extensive ski-lift network. Courchevel 1650, about 1,100 yds in length, is a larger, livelier version of 1550, with a significant commercial hub, abundant accommodation and plentiful restaurants. Courchevel 1850 is nearly 1 ml sq and is the throbbing, sophisticated heart of the resort, with myriad facilities, entertainments and shops; it has mainly aesthetically challenged 1950s architecture, although contemporary development is more sympathetic.

Corfu

Corfu is one of the Ionian Islands which nestle off the West side of the Greek mainland. The island is 36 miles long and at its widest part (the North) 15 miles wide. Covered with over 3 million evergreen olive trees, watered by winter rains, Corfu, even during the hot dry summers remains one of the greenest of the Mediterranean islands. At the centre is 'Mount Pantocrator' with a height of 998 metres. The NE coast is made up of sheltered rocky coves and shingle beaches offering secluded bays and traditional fishing villages. The North and South offer long sweeping sandy bays and the expected commercialism. The craggy west coast, with the high cliffs and horse-shoe sandy beaches and spectacular sunsets. There is plenty to draw visitors to this magical island. Modern Corfu Town is upbeat and cosmopolitan, offering an exciting conglomeration of Greek, Italian, French and British influences. The old town was laid out by the Venetians in the 14th century and features narrow alleys lined with multi-storeyed pastel-coloured buildings with red tiled roofs, creating a scene reminiscent of Italy. The hub of activity in the town centre is the Liston, an arcaded row of cafes and restaurants, copied from the Rue de Rivoli in Paris. Those wishing to escape from the melee in the town can head for the interior to enjoy some spectacular scenery and greenery. Corfu has, for instance, 43 different kinds of orchids growing wild in the countryside, and there are countless olive groves. Finally there are, of course, the beautiful beaches washed by the sparkling Ionian Sea, and it is still possible to search out a secluded cove or two even in the busy season when the over-developed resorts on the east coast are awash with package tourists.

Yoga and Music

Hello friends,

Let us take a break from the yoga poses and discuss something different. Earlier, we have discussed about yoga classes and etiquettes and also the benefits of doing yoga in office. Today, I will tell you about music and its effect on yoga.

Music has been used in yoga since time immemorial, especially the classical Indian music. In present times also, the divine music of flute is being increasingly used in yoga meditation as it enhances concentration of the yogis. A lot of yoga studios and classes are now also resorting to western instrumentals fora power-packed and energized session of yoga.

However, one has to keep in mind that the selection of music for a particular session should be done carefully. Though it is not difficult these days as you get music CDs specifically intended for the various practice sessions. Besides, there are many institutions, ashrams and Yoga centers worldwide who have come up with their own music composition specially suited for the yoga sessions. These musiccompositions are done by experts based on the ancient classical music and are a perfect blend of Eastern and Western.

The effects of music on yoga are numerous, the primary ones being that it increases the ability to relax, improves balance and concentration. Hence, I also strongly recommend the use of music in your yoga sessions.